Cotton-planter



(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1.

- J. K. P. ,SHELTON COTTON PLANTER.

No. 351,843. Patentedlvov. 2, 1886.

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 4.

J, K. P. SHELTON;

COTTON PLANTER.

No. 351,843. Patented Nox/r2, 1886.

Illu

A IUI rmwmmiim mummy (No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 5.

J. K. P. SHELTON.

- COTTON PLANTER."

No. 351,843.. A Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. P. SHELTON, OF GASTON, ALABAMA.

COTTON- PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,843, dated November2. 1886.

Application tiled December 23, i885. Serial No. 186,554. (No model.)

To all whom,` it may concern:

Be it k-nown that I, JAMES K. P. SHEL'roN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gaston, in the county of Sumter and State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCotton-Planters, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective of the lowermain frame, one of thedriving-wheels and one of the steering-Wheels being removed. Fig. 2 is aperspective of theupper frame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machinewhen the parts are arranged for planting. Fig. 4 is a top View of thatin Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section on the line x Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 7 is a vertical transversesection on the line y y, Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 8 is a perspective of apart of one of the sliding bars and the adjacent parts. Fig. 9 shows amodification of the devices for reciprocating the sliding bars. Fig. 1Qis a perspective of the opener. Fig. 10a is acrosssection of the opener.Fig. 11 is a perspective of the front end of one ofthe sliding bars.Fig. 12 is a section through the'same. Fig. 13

- is a plan view of the seed-distributer and its frame. Fig. 14 is asection on the linezz, Fig. 13. Fig 15 is a section on the line z z',Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a side view of thedevices when arranged foi1chopping. Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse sectionon the line fr x',Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows a front and rear scraper.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the stirrnp whichscale. Fig. 24 is aplan viewof one of the chopper-blades. Fig. 25 is a bottom plan of one of theadjusting-bars for the rear Scrapers.

. The main frame of the machine is composed of the side longitudinalsills, F F, and the cross-girts G' G. rlhese are framed together, so asto provide a strong support for the other l devices, the framing beingpreferably effected in the Way shown. At the front ends of the sidesills, F, there aremetal stirrups F', surrounding the cross-girt G.Preferably, the

girts G G project beyond the outersides of the sills F, in order thatthe projecting parts may be utilized for purposes to be hereinafterdescribed. This main frame is mounted upon the drive-wheels A A', thelatter being upon the axle A, which issecnred in boxes A, situatedpreferably a short distance back of the center of the lnachinelongitudinally. The

drive-wheel A is made fast to the axle, While 6o the wheel A is loosethereon, so that the former can beutilized for transmit-ting motion to.the various operative parts, while at the same timer the machine can beturned without having the drive-wheels held rigidly together. If

desired, ratchets of any of the well-known forms may be used inconnection with the drive-wheels.

At the front of the machine there are two supporting caster-wheels, B B.These are 7o mounted and attached to the frame in such way that they canbe oscillated to assist `in When made of wood, they 7 5 l have shownthat 8o shaft H3 of the wheel B, there being prefera- 85 bly two ofthese lhangers on each side of the wheel.

tegral. At the upper end there is a plate, H,

If desired, the whole can be cast in above the girt G, and below thegirt there isw a second plat-@H these plates being either cast with orrigidly secured to the hangers H H. By means of apivot at H6 the platesand hangers are joined to the girt G. It will be understood that thereis one of these wheels B mounted in this manner upon each side of 9 5the machine. They are joined by a bar, Hl,

pivoted at its ends to the plates H". By moving this bar H7 to the rightor the left the wheels B B will be correspondingly turned, and themachine can be readily guided in roo either direction. y

By employing two V-shaped hangers, H H',

one on each side of each steering-wheel, in the lower ends of which ismounted the steeringwheel axle, and connecting their upper divergingends by a plate or plates, through which passes (between the upper endsof the hangers) the bolt by which the hangers and the wheel they carryare connected to the frame of the machine, the wheels are supported in arigid manner, so that there is no undue strain upon any of the partswhen the wheel is turned, even though the soil be soft, and at the sametime the supporting-standards are pivoted to the frame directly over thecentral line of the wheel-axle, thus permitting it to be turned with theleast possible exertion and the least possible strain upon any of theparts.

XVith the devices last described I have com-- bined mechanism forreadily operating the bar H7 and wheels B.

P is a shaft situated vertically. At the lower end it is stepped in thegirt G and carries a forwardly-projecting arm, Q, either i11- tcgralwith the shaft or secured thereto by key or set-screw, as at Q. This armis pivoted to the bar H7 at Q1. At a suitable point above the arm Q isattached a handle, T, this being of any convenient length, and by whichthe driver can with his hand readily turn the wheels B B. Below thishandle there are stirrups S S, one to the right, the other to the left,

of the shaft I), and both connected therewith by one or more bars, R.Yhen the driver is riding upon the machine, as hereinafter provided for,his feet can be placedl in the stir rups S, and by means of them he canguide the machine when his hands are otherwise occupied. 'Io the framethus constructed and mounted, a team can be connected in any preferredway.

Above the main frame I place a supplemental framc, co-nsisting of thecross-bars J J2 and longitudinal bars K K. This upper frame is supportedupon and connected to the lower main frame by standards J J, bolted tothe cross-bars J J2, said standards being preferably detachable from themain frame, so as to permit the parts of the machine to be rcadily takenapart for repair or other purposes. The longitudinal bars K K may be ofany material, though I prefer to have them somewhat elastic, that theymay serve to advantage as the support of the drivers seat. The latter isrepresented by L, it being carried by a spring, M, which at the lowerend is secured to the sill M. This sill is fastened rigidly in place bymeans of stirrup-bolts M2, it resting upon pillow-blocks h 3.Byloosening the nuts upon the lower ends of the stirrup-bolts M2, thecross-bar M and seat carried thereby may be adjusted toward and from thesteering mechanism, which, when the feet-steering devices are used, isvery desirable, in order to enable a rider of any size and length of legto easily reach the stirrups S. The bars KK project forward of thecross-piece J, and at their front ends carry a cross-brace, O, which atthe center is provided with a bearing or guide, O', for the upper partof'v the steering shaft I.

Having thus described the main features of the framework of the machine,I will now srt forth the devices which I use for planting.

The seed is placed in the hopper m.. This is supported upon the topframe by means of' hooks m', carried by the hopper, and eyes on thecross-bar J'. At the lower end the hopper communicates with thereceiving-bonr ,whieh is formed with an upper receptacle and a plate, t,below, this latter having a curved outline, as shown in Figs. 13,14, and15. rIhis receiving-box is secured to a frame having crosshars it i andjoining-bars f. The eross-bars it' il have apertures i", adapted toreceive pins i, projecting upwardly from the main frame.

/Viththese the seeder-frame can be connected, and from them it can bedetached with great readiness. The movable or distributing part consistsof a plate, h, and a lever, g, the former being circular in outline andfitted to a correspondinglyishaped seat in the bottom of thereceiving-box t'. The plate and leverare pivoted to the crossbar i at y,this pivot being the center of the curve ef the edge of the plate h, sothat the plate can be oscillated from side to side, and at the same timehave its ed ge fitted tightlyin its seat. The plate h is provided with aseries of apertures, h2, on a curved line parallel with the edge. Thenthe plate h. is oseillated, one or more of these apertures is drawn outto one side ofthe box, and then one or more the seed can be rapidly butuniformly withdrawn in such manneras to form substantially a continuonsstream. The apertures h may widen toward the bottom,so that the seedshall readily pass or drop out. At 7i* h* there are openings in the sideofthe reccivi ng-box,whieh are closed by means of springs hs upon theinside ofthe box. Each spring is rigidly secured at the top edge,and bymeans of them the regulating of the feed is effected. The springs can bepushed in or let out by mcans of'setscrews Il, bearing against the facesof the springs.

The leverg and plate h are operated as follows: E E represent wheelssecured to the axle A2, and carrying three 0r more pins, E', by whichreeiprocation of bars U U is effected. These bars are carried by theupper frame, they being mounted in bearings formed for them in the endsof the cross-bars J J2. The bearings are preferably formed by recessingthe ends of the hars, and inclosing said ends with metal stirrups j.(See Fig. S.) Each bar U is provided with a downwardly-projecting pin,U', so arranged as to lie in the path of the pins E on wheel E.

XV represents a strap, chain, or other fiexible device, attached to thefront end ofthe bar U. It is preferably connected by means of a metalthimble, W, fitted to the front end of' the bar U, the thimble carryinga socketpiece, XW. The strap XV has its end passed through the aperturein the socket-piece, and said end is clamped by means of an iron plate,

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IZO

IOO drawn ont at the opposite side, and in this way i i Waud a wedgedriven tightly against thev strap by means of a set-screw, W3. The strapW on each side of the machine passes backward from its point'ofattachment with the bar U', and is then turned inward around astandard,-X, preferably round, and carried by the main frame.

The above-described lever g is at its rear end provided with two hooks,9595, preferably formedy upon a plate secured to said lever. With thesehooks gr5 the straps Ware connected, the straps having apertures forthis purpose.

The wheels E E are so arranged on the axle A2 that the pins E on onewheel shall not be directly opposite the pins ou the other. but so thatthey shall be respectively opposite the centers of the spaces betweensaid pins on the other; and it will be seen that these pins E'on wheelsE will alternately engage with the bars U, respectively, and push themforward. As the. right-hand bar moves forward it draws the lever g tothe` right by its strap W,.and said lever, by strap WV on the otherside, draws back the other bar, U-that is to say, the pins E on thewheels E E not only drive forward the bars U, but also return them. Inthis way a rapid'oscillation of the lever g is effected andthe seeddropped, as above described.

It will be seen that the rigid bars U, which receive motion directlyfrom the drive-wheels, reciprocate in rectilineal lines, whereby severaladvantageous results are attained. In the rst place, there is lessliability of the bars becoming clogged by dirt or weeds and grass 'thanwere the bars pivoted and given avibratory motion. Further, they travelover a comparatively small area, and hence may be covered by shields ofsimple form, as shown. Again, these bars may be mounted and made totravel close to the longitudinal bars or sills of the frame, and thisrigid rect-ilineally-reciprocatingbarenables me to mount it upon a supplemental frame, as shown,which may be easily land quickly appliedtothe main frame ofthe machine.

The seed which drops from the apertures hZ is Vreceived into a funnel,j', from which it passes through atube, jt', -tothe opener. This openeriseomposed, mainly, of the presser-bar aand Vwings b. llhe press-balaisiliade of east-iron,

and the front edge is tapered on both-sides to ward the point, this edgebeingsoniewhat dull.

The, sides of the presser bar a converge downwardly to form adull edgeat the bottom. The wings b are at their front ends fitted into seatsformed in the press-bar c and are there riveted, the rivets alsosecuring the vertical bar c, by which the front end of the opener isconnected to a supplemental crossbar, I, carried by the main frame. rIheends of this crossbar are fastened in staples orvequivalent holders; sothat said bar can be readily removed,

if desired. The rear ends of the wings b are supported from the mainframe by means of hangers d and a detachable `cross-bar, I', the

latter being fastened to the frame substantially similarly to that abovedescribed. In thetop of the opener there is a passage or guide for theseed, to which the latter is directed by the tube jt.

e e represent the covering block, by which the earth is placed over theseed, it forming something ot' a ridge. Preferably it is formed of awooden part, e', and a metal facing, e2. It is supported by means of thebars or inclined hangersf, which at their upper ends are piv- A port forthe block, the latter being allowed to rise and fall, as required. Theplate etnot only acts as a re-enforee for the wooden part, but alsoprovides the `required weight.

The operation of the parts above described for planting will be readilyunderstood. Said parts are arranged as described and shown.` The hopperm is supplied with the seed and rthe machine started along the desiredline.

The wheelsE Ein revolving oseillate the distributer g l1., through theparts U and W, as above described. The apertures h2, beneath thedistributing box t', become filled with thev seed, and as theyL passovut from under thebox and from above the plate i the seed immediatelydrops into funnelj', the peculiar shape of the apertures h12V insuringthis instant dropping.

It thence passes down the tube jz to the rear end ofthe opener, where itdrops into the furrow made by thelatter, and is then covered by r theblock e e2. By means ofthe steeringdevices the driver can plantthe rowalong any desired line, and has full control of the maehine,`be ing ableto guide it accurately either with his feet or hands. If the soil hasbeen ridged up previous to planting, the lmachine is'placed over theridge, and the various parts are correspqndingly adj usted -such as theopener and the covering-block. When it is desired to stop the motion ofthe distributer, it is necessary to merely unhook one ofthe straps W.

I will now `describe the construction, ar-y rangement, and operation ofthe devices by which the chopping is effected.

It will be understood that the devices above described for planting havebeen removed* namely, the hopper m,t'he funnel jj'the opener a b, itssupporting-bars c d, the distributer, the supporti ngbars i2 of thelatter being lifted ott from the pins i, and the covering-block eei, themain parts of the frame-work, &c, being retained i'or this purpose ofchopping. For 'said purpose the special devices consist, mainly,`offront Scrapers, u, rear Scrapers, q, and the intermediate swingingchoppers. The front serapers, n, widen rearward and downward. The frontends are curved upward and outward, forming a toe, n', on each, these'toes being so shaped as to have a peculiar action upon the soil, and ofsufficient length to be easily seen above the latter. Each scraper isIIO at the front end secured to an upright bar, p, by two bolts. Theupper ends of the bars pass through the eyes of eyebolts p, said boltsbeing inserted into the front girt of the main frame.

pi represents a slirrup or U -shaped connecting-piece, whichjoins thetwo barsp p, it hav ing eyes through which said bars pass. The latterare also provided with collars p and set screws p below theconnecting-piece p2. By examining the drawings, it will be seen that thedistance between the eyes of the connectingpiece p2 is greater than thatbetween the eyebolts p', and therefore said connecting-piece can be usedto hold the front ends of the scrapers at one or another ofvariousdistances apart. To thus adjust them, the eyebolts p and collars p3 areloosened, the bars p p are arranged at the desired angle of divergence,the connectingpieee p'l being brought to the desired position, afterwhich said collars and screws are again made fast.

Each scraper n is at its rear end secured to a fiat vertical bar, o, andeach of these bars o is at its upper end secured to the crossbar I,above described. At points below their upper ends these part-s o arejoined by a connecting-brace, o. VThe action of these scrapers is suchas to remove the soil somewhat from each side of the row, leaving anarrow bar of earth on top of the ridge, in order that the chopping-hoesmay act efectually. Said hoes are constructed and attached as follows:

e is a detachable shaft adapted to be mounted in a bearin(r at t" in theabove-deseribedcross-bar J of the top frame. The rear end o1` the shaftv ress in an open recess at v2 in the rear bar, J, the shaft beingattened, in order to lit tightly in its seat.

v3 is a pivoted hook adapted to swing over the shaft and hold it in itsseat, there being at c* a stop, consisting ot' a peg, which locks thehook in position. This shaft v provides the immediate support for theVframe of the hoes.

nr a' represent two bars hinged to the shaft u by eyes zr', and at thelower ends provided with sockets and set-screws 10"', transverse to saidsockets. These are held in the proper positions on the shaft by means ofcollars v5 and setscrews v", as will be readily understood from thedrawings. In the sockets aforesaid are fitted two downwardly-extendingbars, x fr,

their upper ends being fastened by the setserews zo. Their lower endsare secured to a plate or bar, y, thelatter having a slot extendinglongitudinally from one end to the other, and said bars a' .r being attheir lower ends squared to fit said slot, and having nuts rv andwashers y', whereby they are rigidly fastened to said plate or bar y. Tothis bar y are attached the hoe-Shanks z These are tubular passesthrough the hoe-blade and the shank, it being headed at the lower endand threaded at the upper, and by means of a nut, z, and a washer, z5,said parts can all be rigidly clamped to the plate or bar y.

The hoe-blades are of steel,and are concavoconvex in cross-section. Thecorners are beveled, so that each is hexagonal. When shaped thns,theyare equally effective in whatever direction they move. The front andrear blades, z z', may be of the same length as the intermediate blade,z'z, or they may be shorter, as desired. It will be seen that theseblades can be very readily adjusted, so as to have them any desireddistance apart, it being only nec essary to loosen their fastenings andslide them one way or the other on the bar y and again fasten them. Avertical adjustment can also be attainedvery easily by loosening theset-screws w2 and sliding the bars :c up or down in the socketed parts wand again tightening said screws.

The number of plants left in the row can be regulated by the number ofhoeblades employed. XVhen three hoes are used, they leave twice as manyplants as when two are employed; but it will be seen that when two areused the extreme length of the cutters is the same as that when threeare used.

The same devices are used to reciprocate the hoes that were used toreciprocate the seeddstrbnter-that is to say, wheels E E, bars U, andstraps \V. The straps are connected to a double hook, w* w, to which thestrap NV can be hitched. This double hook is carried by a bar, w,connecting the hanger-bars by means of eyes wrand set-screws 107.

In order to guide and brace the lower partsof the swinging chopper fromthe main frame, I employ a detachable cross-bar, IV, which is fastenedto the main frame by means of hooks on the ends of the bar and staplesou the frame. The bar F is notched, so that this cross-bar can easilyswing out when it is to be detached. The chopper is so arranged that oneof the swinging hangers x is in proximity to the axle A2, the latterserving to guide and brace it, while the other hangerx s guided andbraced by the aforesaid bar \V3.

The rear scrapers, q, are, in general shape, the reverse ofthe frontScrapers, a-that is to say, they are widest at the front ends and narrowsomewhat toward the rear. They are concave-convex in vertical section;but the curvature is such that the top and bottom edges of each are morenearly in a Vertical plane at the r'ear end than they are at the front.Each is supported by means of a hanger, r, secured to its scraper by twobolts at the lower end, and at the upper end bolted to the cross-bar l.The two hanger-bars r are joined by a connecting-brace, r', preferablymade of round iron and havingits ends bent downward. Said ends arefitted into the eyes of eyebolts r2, passed through the hangers r.

S S are regulating-braces, each having an aperture at the front end toreceive an eyebolt,

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r2, and each being at the rear end formedwith a slotted part, the slotbeing 'represented by s. rIhrough this slot passes a bolt, s',v whichengages with the rear cross-beam, G, it carrying a nut, s, adapted tobear strongly against the under side of the slotted part of the brace.

n The rear ends of the Scrapers q q can be thrown farther apart ornearer together by moving the slotted part of these braces yS in thenecessary direction. i

WG W represent check-springs, of which lproper adjustments have been.madethat is ,to say, after the forward Scrapers, n, have been put inplace and arranged properly both vertically and horizontally,andtherearscrapers, q q, have been suitably fixed in position, and theshaft o and the swinging choppers have been properly inserted and adjusted-the machine is advanced along the row, and as the wheels A E Erotate, the bars U and straps W are caused to swing the chopping-hoesfrom side to side, they acting to remove from the row the desired numberof plants. As h'ereinbefore stated, the front Scrapers leave a narrowbar of soil and the choppers cut,y through this bar. The rear Scrapers,q, again bring up the soil on both Sides to reform the beveled ridgealong the plants. Y

In order to adapt the machine to cultivate also, I provide the followingdevices: t t represent bent iron beams, the forward endsv of which aresecured by the pivot-bolts to the frame-pieces F, and which are guidedby means of stirrups t', also secured to the frame-pieces F, thesestirrups being perforated and adapted to receive pegs, by which thevertical position of each beam t canbe regulated. The beams t carryfoot-pieces t,adapted to receive plows or cultivator-shovels. Besidesthese, there are plows behind the drive-wheels, they being carried bybars u a, secured by eyebolts u to the rear cross-piece, G, of the mainframe. Instead of a wheel, E, use may be made of any device adapted tocarry the pins, such as radiating arms, Fig. 9.

While I have shown and prefer to use two reciprocating bars, U, andoperate them in substantially the manner herein provided for, yet itwill be seen that a single sliding bar can be used, and the other partscan be'somewhat modified to correspond to such a change.

Z Z represent two sheet-iron shields or fenders hinged to the topframe-and adapted to cover the sliding bars U U. They maybe recessed,`as shown at z5 z5, to prevent interference with the wheels which carrythe pins,

Aabove described.

forward or back, so that the one occupying it can be convenientlysituated to the steering mechanism, or so as to throw the weight overthe proper part.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the details of theconstruction shown, for in many respects they may be more or lessmodified or departed fromA without departing -from the spirit of theinvention with respect Ato said parts of the mechanism.

I do not herein claim the matters relating to the chopping andcultivating devices, having made those the subject-matter of anotherapplication, which I ani about to file.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the main frame, the seedingdevices carried thereby, the drivingwheels, the steering-wheels, and theforked hangers H H', one on each side of one of the steering-wheels, andiu the lower ends of which are mounted the wheel-shafts H3, said hangersconnecting the wheels with the main frame, substantially as set forth.

' 2. kThe combination of the main frame, the seeding devices carriedthereby, Vthe drivewheels, the steering-wheels, and the forked hangerswhich support the wheels at their lower ends, the plates connecting theupper ends of the hangers, and the pivots 'passing `through the platesbetween the ends of the hangers and connecting them with the main frame,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the main frame, the seeding devices carriedthereby, the drivewheels, the steering-wheels, the forked hangers whichsupport the wheels attheir lower ends, the plates d, connecting theupper forked ends of the hangers, the pivots connecting the yplates withthe main frame, the bar H7, connecting said plates, and means for movingsaid Abar in order to turn the steering-wheels, substantially as setforth.

Y 4. The combination of the main frame, the Seeding devices carriedthereby, the steeringwheels, the vertical shaft connected with thesteering-wheels, by which the steering-wheels are turned, andthestirrups for Ythe drivers feet carried bysaid shaft, substantially asset forth. 5. The combination of the main frame, the seeding devicescarried thereby, the steeringwheels, the vertical 'shaft connected withthe steering-wheels, the bar R, transverse to said shaft and connectedthereto, and the stirrups S, carried by said bar upon opposite sides ofthe shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the main frame, the seeding devices carriedthereby, the steeringwheels, devices, substantially as described, for

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moving said steering-wheels, and a drivers seat adjustable toward andfrom the steering devices, substantially as Set forth. Y

7. The combination of the main frame, the seeding devices carriedthereby, the steeringwheels, devices, substantially as described, formoving said steering-wheels, the longitudinal elastic bars, andthedrivers seat supported on said elastic bars adjustably relatively to theSteering devices, substantially as set forth.

8. In a seeding-machine, the combination of the main frame, the seedingdevices carried thereby, and a supplemental removable frame Supportedupon the main frame and carrying a drivers seat, and devices whereby theseeding devices are operated, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the main frame, the seed-dropping devices carriedthereby, a rectilineally-reciproeating rigid bar, devices earried by thewheel which directly engage with and move said bar, and a flexible strapwhich unites the bar with the see(ldrop} iing devices, substantially asset forth.

10. The combination of the main frame, the seed-droppin g devicescarried thereby,two op positely rectilineally-reciproeating rigid barsconnected with the seed-dropping devices, and means :carried by thewheels which directly reciprocate said bars alternately, substantiallyas set forth.

l1. 'Ihe combination of the main frame, the seed-dropping devices, asupplemental frame carried by the main frame, arectilineally-reciprocating rigid bar carried by the supplemental frame,means carried by the wheels for imparting motion directly to said bar,and a connection between said bar and the seed-dropping devices,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the main frame having the longitudinal sills F F,the seed-dropping devices, a supplemental frame carried by the mainframe, rectilineally-reciprocating bars carried by the supplementalframe and mounted by the side of the sills F ofthe main frame, means forreciprocating said bars, and connections between said bars and the seeddropping devices, substantially as set forth.

13. In a seeding-machine, the combination of the supporting-frame havingcross-bars, the seeding devices, the reciprocating bars connected bysuitable devices with the seeding devices and mounted in recesses insaid crossbars, and stirrupsj, which confine said bars in the recesses,substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of the main frame, the seed-dropping devices carriedthereby, a reciprocating bar, a ,flexible stra-p connecting said barwith the seed-dropping devices, a socket, T2, carried by the bar and inwhich one end of the strap is inserted, and a clamping-piece whichconfines the strap in said socket, substantially as set forth.

15. In a seed-distributer, the combination of the seed-distributingplate, a receiving-box provided with openings for the outward passage ofseed, springs which regulate the passage of seed through said openings,and means for adjusting said springs,\vl1ereby the amount of seeddelivered may be varied, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the seed-box, the vibrating distributing-platepivoted at g', the lever g, attached to and projecting from thedistributing plate, the rectilineally1ecipro eating bars U U, the strapsX, connecting said bars with lever g, and means, substantially such asdescribed, for alternately reciprocating said bars, as set forth.

17. The combination, with the main frame provided with pins or theirequivalents, of the detachable frame adapted to be secured to the mainframe by said pins, a seed-box attached to said detachable frame, and adistributing-plate also attached to said detachable frame, substantiallyas set forth.

18. The combination, with the main frame, of the detachable framesupported upon the main frame and having the cross-bars 'i2 i, theseed-box secured to one of said cross-bars, and the vibrating platepivoted to the other crossbar, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of the main frame, the seed-box, thedistributing-plate, a reciprocat ing bar which moves said plateaudthehinged shield which covers said bar, substantially as .set forth.

20. Inaseeder, the herein-described opener, consisting of the press-bara, formed from a single piece of metal having the front tapering edge,and having alsoin the top thereoi'aseed groove or passage, substantiallyas set forth.

21. In a seeding-machine, the herein described opener, consisting of thepressbar a, and the wings b, seated in recesses therefor formed in thepress-bar, the press-bar being formed with the upper backwardslopingfront edge and the lower backward sloping edge and a beveled bottoniedge, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES K. l). SIIELTO.

Witnesses:

WM. B. GORE, B. T. BnowN. y

